Nepal announces commissions to probe war crimes, disappearance of hundreds during insurgency

KATHMANDU, Nepal – A government minister says Nepal has formed two commissions that would probe crimes committed during a decade-long communist insurgency and investigate the cases of hundreds of people who disappeared during the period.

Law Minister Narhari Acharya said the two commissions were formed by the government on Tuesday and would have tenures of two years.

Thousands of people died during fighting between Maoist rebels and government troops until a U.N. monitored peace agreement ended the conflict in 2006.

Rights groups have been demanding these commissions for years but disagreements between political parties had delayed formation of these bodies.